Congressman sorry for likening Obama to Hitler
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/11/12/art.broun.ap.jpg caption="Rep. Paul Broun is sorry for seemingly comparing Obama to Adolf Hitler."]
(CNN) - Republican Paul Broun is sorry for calling President-elect Barack Obama a 'Marxist' and comparing him to Adolf Hitler, the Georgia Congressman said Tuesday.
“I regret putting it that way,” he told WGAC radio in Augusta, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “I apologize to anyone who has taken offense at that.”
In an interview with the Associated Press earlier this week, Broun admitted to calling the future commander-in-chief a 'Marxist' at a recent Rotary club meeting, and said Obama has expressed support for policies similar to those of Hitler.
"It may sound a bit crazy and off base, but the thing is, he's the one who proposed this national security force," Broun told the AP. "I'm just trying to bring attention to the fact that we may– may not, I hope not - but we may have a problem with that type of philosophy of radical socialism or Marxism."
Broun was specifically referring to a July speech by Obama, where the then-Democratic presidential nominee said he supports a civilian force helping the military when it comes to national security: "We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well funded [as the military]," Obama said in the speech that was largely a call to national service.
Responding to those comments, Broun told the AP Monday: "That's exactly what Hitler did in Nazi Germany and it's exactly what the Soviet Union did. When he's proposing to have a national security force that's answering to him, that is as strong as the U.S. military, he's showing me signs of being Marxist."
"We can't be lulled into complacency," Broun added. "You have to remember that Adolf Hitler was elected in a democratic Germany. I'm not comparing him to Adolf Hitler. What I'm saying is there is the potential."
The Obama transition office did not respond to Broun's comments, and in his interview Tuesday to WGAC, the first term congressman said, “The point I tried to make is that he is extremely liberal, he has promoted a lot of socialistic ideas, and it just makes me concerned."
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Now here goes the labels again...
President Elect Obama will not become President until Jan. 20, 2009. and already members of the congress are speaking out of turn. Why don't we come together as a nation to support the new elect president, instead of doubt, and tearing down any plans that may be part of his administration. Just like any new CEO of a company would require teamwork to make the company successful, Obama needs and requires the same level of teamwork. I feel that these individuals that are labeling Obama as a marxist, socialist has a issue with "change". So When Obama and his administration is successful with handling the economy and the two wars, then I want all of his negative supportors to bend down and pick their faces up off the ground. GIVE HIM A CHANGE TO GET IN OFFICE FIRST, BEFORE TEARING HIM DOWN!
This is exactly why they lost.
A new day is dawning, and those of his ilk are a dying breed. You should all be concerned about the mess the country is in and where we go from here without repeating history.
Please enough with the "Anti-Palin Pro Woman" . NEW FLASH: The election is o-v-e-r! We are a nation divided along secular, moral, and party lines. Sounds like another country, IRAQ. There, hows that for a comparison for you America. Especially those disinfranchised Obama supporters who are now comming down from their election season high, only to eventually find he is no better then the rest. " Meet the new boss, same as the old boss." I won't get fooled again!
This bozo should resign–or be recalled by the voters of Georgia–no place in our society for someone like this to be in a position of resposibility
To think this was the party I ascribed to for years. How can grown adults, our elected officials at that, not control their tongues. If every stupid thought that goes through their brain comes out of their mouths then they have no business being in office. I'm sure he'll sink his own ship eventually...
Gop is a party of Racist bigots
Sadly, this is my Congressman. And he is a nut job.
Comparing Obama to a marxist and Hitler is utterly moronic.
Marxism is extreme left, Hitler was extreme right.
The opposition offers no solutions, just criticism. However, had this program been introduced by the right, it would have been hailed as one of the best ideas for national security. I guess the opposition is satisfied with unsecured ports and boarders although they are the first to boast about their guns and nukes. You would have thought that the beating the republicans suffered last week would have tampered down their name calling. Side line criticism without clear direction and solutions will cost them again in two years.
Quite simply, the Hitler comparison is foolish. Those were different times. The internet has democratized information. As with socialist nations of the past, the "State" could attempt to "know all, control all" but it can no longer keep the citizenry from doing the same. Fearmongering aside, the more likely reality is that Obama will herald a closer adherence to the Constitution and the atrocities of the past 8 years will become historical anomalies. We've never quite lived up to the Constitution as set forth, but Obama understands it better than most past presidents and the U.S. may finally approach it's true potential as a guiding force for freedom and equality...in actions rather than words.
Have'nt the Republican party not learn they lessons? It is this type of ideology that will that will keep them permanently in the minority.
Go Obama.
Tony
Winnipeg, Canada
Paul Brown needs to be recalled for this. It will only get worse if he is already making comments like this. Sorry....yeah right. This won't be the last of his ignorant comments. I'm from Georgia and I have NEVER voted for him.
Why is the GOP so negative? They don't see any good in anything.
Wow, typical of the far-right of the Rep. party. And they wonder why they lost?
So this republican is saying the people of the US are potentially the same minded as the people of 1920-30's Germany and the Gov't is structured much the same. This is the only way such a repeat could happen. He feels the US is the same as Germany and it is the republicans job to protect the people from their own desires to go the way the germans did. There is many more worse countries killing off their own people ran closer to the Republican's way then this likelyhood. But the Democrates credit the country, morals and people with not accepting a African or middle East style gov't from happening. This person has NO PLACE in public office thinking so little of the Amercian people.
This guy is my choice to lead the head of the RNC, so Democrats can win again in 2012.
Obama/Biden-Congratulations.
Yeah, ok, Obama was proposing something akin to the SS....morons. First, the Republicans should have learned by now that their fear mongering no longer works on anyone but the staunchest of troglodytes in their party. Second, Hitler? Jump the shark much? Let's get something straight: Hitler is the one who said "tell the Big Lie and keep repeating it and they will eventually believe it's true." This has been the core philosophy of the Republican party for the past decade and they can't even get it right!!! The "Big Lie" has to at least be BELIEVABLE on some basic level you idiots!!! The socialism/marxism line of crap isn't working BECAUSE IT'S ENTIRELY INACCURATE IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT EITHER.
I hope these republican can come up with some plans and policies of their own rather than sitting back crititizing those who are at least putting forth ideas on how to get us out of this mess. Doing nothing is not a solution. It appears to me that these republicans have no ideas except to let the market fix itself. Apparently that approach does not work.
This is the exact mentality that is dividing our country and I agree, Republican Party at its best- they really didn't learn anything during the election, did they?
I believe that Paul Broun is jumping to conclusions and trying to desperately stretch and reach for something to put a bad spin on Obama.... but this isn't it. Paranoia much? He took what Barack Obama said completely out of context.... I don't believe that he is wanting a civilian national security force that answers only to him.... I believe he means to have a network of citizens that volunteer and support the US military- fundraisers, supplies, friends and medical needs after they return from war.... that isn't Marxist- it's American.
Maybe this Yahoooooo didn't get the message:
"It's a different story for the GOP, with just 24 percent approving of how Republican leaders are handling their jobs and nearly three in four disapproving."
Rep. Broun, this doesn't help your party that can use all the positives it can get.
What a pitiful excuse for a congressman. I pray he has no offspring.
Paul Broun is sorry, he's sorry that his statement will have political consequences for him, however, he does not regret what he said.
Well if you're a Southern Republican trying to make impact with a statement regardless of how unbelievably stupid and non-sensical it is I suppose dropping the Hitler-bomb is the way to go. Typical Republican "leadership" creating false panic to steer people away from the real issues. Sad that still seems to work amongst the Neo-Confederates of the South, how else does John McSame win so easily there? What % of these Neo-Con(federates) still think Bush has done a good job....
Let the game start. They cant wait for him to take office , before they start. Wow...